“I think living purposefully means to have the courage to be authentic and true to yourself; to do whatever it is that makes you happiest; stand up for what you believe to be right; and most importantly, to love with all your heart.” – Lauren.
It’s hard not to cry happy tears and grab the tissues after watching Josh and Lauren’s wedding video, and we were honoured to hear more from the couple about their special day.
Josh and Lauren wed on the 26th of June, 2017, at the Craggy Gardens along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, North Carolina. After Lauren’s father passed away nine years ago, the thought of walking down the aisle without him was unbearable. A simply sweet, and intimate wedding was what they planned and implemented perfectly.
The day before the ceremony, Josh and Lauren wandered the Craggy Gardens to scout out their location. They purposefully chose a place they hadn’t been to before, and instantly fell in love with the spot beneath a twisted tree trunk that made the perfect arch. It was beneath this tree that Susan Marlan from BeLoved Ceremony married Josh and Lauren in the presence of their two daughters, and their closest friends and family, including Lauren’s father watching on.
Josh and Lauren honoured their parents by giving them each a single white rose. They left an empty jar for Lauren’s father, making the moment even more meaningful as Josh placed the flower in the vase. Family means everything to Josh and Lauren, and being able to have these intimate moments with only those closest to them, meant they could embrace their grief and happiness in an open and honest way.
“Though he wasn’t there in person, I felt my father all around me that day. It was truly the most special day of my life.”– Lauren.
Courtney Holmes captured the day on camera with both video and images, and she couldn’t have done it better. From the DIY wedding florals and flower crowns, to the homemade picnic, and Josh and Lauren’s exploration through the gorgeous scenery. The girl’s baths in the morning, and the relaxed way in which Lauren and Josh held themselves throughout the day, all demonstrate the love and family focus that exuded from their wedding.
“Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and, when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.” – An excerpt from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres, read at the ceremony.
This beautiful couple have been together for a very long time, and continue to grow together and love each other daily. They ring each other every day on the commute home, to touch base before hectic kiddie time. This is a sacred, special time which reconnects them daily. Having been together for so long, and from a young age, Josh and Lauren agree they’ve grown up together in a way that makes them stronger as parents, and a family unit.
Lauren’s grandfather once told her: in a relationship you should never expect the effort to be 50-50. You should both feel like you’re giving 75% and your spouse 25%. Even though this isn’t always easy, for Josh and Lauren, it’s totally worth it. They wouldn’t spend their lives in any other way.
We’re so thankful to share Josh and Lauren’s stunning day, and we wish them and their family all the best for many more years of exploring and adventuring together!
Lauren + Josh // Craggy Gardens, NC from Courtney Holmes on Vimeo.
